COUNTRY Australia

NAME Blue Mountains National Park NP

II (National park)

Part of Greater Blue Mountains Proposed World Heritage Site – Natural Criteria (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)/ Cultural Criteria (vi).

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION 6.6.6

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION Located approximately 60 km west of Sydney, New South Wales, the site rises from the Cumberland Plain in the east to encompass some of the central portions of the Great Dividing Range which runs along much of the eastern perimeter of continental Australia. The park has a complex border, in part defined by the distribution of privately owned areas of adjacent land. To the north the park shares a long border with the Wollemi National Park, while to the west it shares a common border with the Kanangra-Boyd National Park. The eastern border runs close to Lake Burragorang and the Nepan River, with a small direct connection with the Nattai National Park in the south-east. The northern section of the park is geographically split from the south by a corridor of privately owned land, including a number of settlements, along the Great Western Highway. This corridor, which is only one kilometre wide at its narrowest point, actually splits the entire proposed World Heritage Site into two distinct units. There is a similar break of the park boundary in the south, however the two separate units here both have a long shared boundary with the Kanangra-Boyd National Park and hence ecological continuity is maintained. 33° 28'-34º18'S, 149° 50'-150º35'E.

DATE AND HISTORY OF ESTABLISHMENT The first proposals for a Greater Blue Mountains National Park were made by Myles Dunphy in the 1920s: the present Blue Mountains National Park is broadly similar to the Central Division of this proposed park, as published on a map in 1934 (Mosley, 1989). At a more practical level, in 1931 a committee formed by the members of the Mountain Trails Club and the Sydney Bush Walkers who purchased a Crown lease over the Blue Gum Forest in the Grose Valley for dedication as a reserve (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998a).

The Blue Mountains National Park was first given official designation in 1959, at which point it had an area of 62,000ha. Extensive additions were made to the park in 1970s and 1980s, and to some degree these are still ongoing (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998a).

Parts of the park have been given additional recognition for their wilderness value. Large parts of the southern sectors of the park are part of the Kanangra-Boyd Wilderness, declared in 1997, while the park also includes the Wollangambe section of the Wollemi Wilderness which has been identified although not yet declared, while there is also a proposal for a Grose Wilderness which would be centred on the Grose Valley (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998a).

AREA 247,840ha

LAND TENURE Crown land permanently reserved under Act.

ALTITUDE 20m-1215m

PHYSICAL FEATURES The park includes a complex and scenically impressive array of geological landscapes. The predominant rocks are sandstones and shales, with some granitic, volcanic and limestone areas.

The general landmass of the eastern region of New South Wales was part of a convergent plate margin during the Late Cambrian, where there was a subduction zone and a related volcanic arc. During the Siluro-Devonian period there were opportunities for deposition, including the development of carbonate reefs which form the basis of the Jenolan caves. There was then a major uplift and subsequent period of erosion during the Carboniferous, prior to the development of a long trough known as the Syndey Basin, which lay between highlands to the north-east and the west. During the middle Permian the Sydney Basin was initially flooded and marine sediments were laid down. Later there were extensive swamps, leading to the production of coal deposits, as exposed in the Illawarra Coal Measures. Later still, the sandstones and shales which give the Blue Mountains their distinctive character were laid down as riverine sediments from the Late Permian to the Mid Triassic: the earliest of these were the Narrabeen Group, largely derived from volcanic sources to the north, while later deposits make up the Hawkesbury Sandstone and were quartz-rich, derived from the continental land-masses to the south-west (Mosley, 1989, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998b).

During the Cretaceous there was a significant change in the dominant tectonic influences as Antarctica and Australia began to separate and a major rift, with rapid sea-floor spreading, began in what is now the Tasman Sea. It seems likely that the high plateau-edge features of the Blue Mountains may be related to such a divergent margin: although the exact mechanisms are unclear there is some evidence that there may have been significant uplift during this period (Mosley, 1989, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998b).

Volcanism during was an important feature during both the Siluro-Devonian, but also during the Jurassic, when a number of diatremes (volcanic necks) were produced. A number of these have now eroded away to form circular depressions or amphitheatres. Even more recently, lava flows from the Miocene have produced hard basalt caps protecting the summits of a number of mountains such as Wilson, Banks and Tomah (Mosley, 1989, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998b).

It is the contemporary physical manifestation of this geological history which is of particular interest in the park. The drainage patterns are anomalous and complex and have led to considerable discussions about wider issues of drainage and landscape evolution. Despite the small size of the rivers vast valleys and gorges have been formed. The very hard nature of the sandstones is highly resistant to erosion, while in many areas it is underlain by much softer shales, thus shallow plateau valleys have eroded into narrow slot canyons (at one point, the Grand Canyon is 30m deep while being only 3m wide at the top of the slot), and then becoming wide open valleys where the overlying sandstone cap has been cut through. High cliffs are a major feature, including a feature known as the Cliff Wall which begins in the north of Wollemi National Park and runs south for almost 280km, reaching its highest point of nearly 300m just south of Wentworth Falls. A large number of spectacular waterfalls are found associated with these cliffs (Mosley, 1989, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998b).

In addition to riverine erosion processes the Blue Mountains provide important example of wind and fire as erosional forces. There has further been discussion of the role of plants and animals. It has been suggested that one species alone, the superb lyrebird, may have had some impact on rates of erosion over geological time-scales. It has been estimated that these birds may turnover an average of 63 tonnes of debris per hectare per year while excavating for food or building nest-mounds (Mosley, 1989).

CLIMATE The climate is highly varied across the park, although essentially warm-temperate. Average summer (January) maximum temperatures are around 23ºC at Mt Victoria (1,050m), but 28ºC at Lake Burragong (150m). Average winter (July) minimum temperatures are 2-3ºC at Wentworth Falls (900m). Again at Mount Victoria there are an average of 40 days with frost per year, and 10 days with snow, although this rarely lasts through the day. Rainfall patterns are varied, with a pronounced summer maximum. Mean annual rainfall typically ranges from 1,100 to 1,400mm in the central areas, but with some areas of rain shadow to the west of the escarpment and in some of the deeper valleys: Little Hartley receives and annual average of 748mm. Winds are typically from the north-west and north and are most pronounced in the winter (Mosley, 1989).

VEGETATION Largely due to their topographic diversity and complexity, the Blue Mountains have maintained a broad range of climatic and other environmental conditions throughout the climatic extremes and relatively rapid oscillations, particularly of recent geological history. In this way the mountains have acted as refugia, enabling the survival of a broad spectrum of vegetation types, and a number of more unusual species groups. A list of vascular plants from the World Heritage nominated area has been provided in the World Heritage nomination (WCMC, in litt.).

A diverse range of over 70 plant communities have been described and mapped for the World Heritage nominated area, over 40 of which have been recorded from the Blue Mountains National Park (1998b). In all over 1000 species of flowering plant have been estimated to occur in the BMNP (Mosley, 1989). The predominant vegetation types are open forest to woodland, where eucalypts are predominant. Dominant species in the BMNP include the scribbly gum Eucalyptus sclerophylla, yellow bloodwood E. eximia, Angophora bakeri, blue gum E. deanii, turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera, the Sydney peppermint E. piperita, and black ash E. sieberi. A number of classification schemes have been devised which subdivide these forest types, based on dominant species, as influenced by geology and climate. Other significant communities include mallee scrub and woodland. Heaths are recorded in the highest areas above 1000m, and in areas exposed to strong winds such as ridge-tops and cliff edges. At similar altitudes where the drainage is restricted, as well as in steep-sided basins in headwater valleys Blue Mountains Swamps have developed, with distinctive sedge, herb and shrub flora, often dominated by button grass Gymnoschoemus sphareocephalus.

A number of rainforest communities have been described with alliances to subtropical, dry, warm-temperate and cool-temperate ecosystems. These rainforest patches are restricted to areas of higher rainfall or higher soil moisture, typically they are also in areas of deeper, nutrient rich soils, and are restricted to areas unaffected by fires. One of the richest areas of warm temperate rainforest is on the slopes of Mount Wilson. Although of interest in the regional context most of these associations are defined by the absence of species found in similar formations elsewhere.

In all some 127 rare or threatened plant taxa have been listed from the World Heritage nominated area and these are listed in full in NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, (1998b). Endemism is also important, 114 taxa have been listed as being exclusively or predominantly found only within the nominated area. Many of the rare, threatened or endemic species are restricted to highly specialised habitats, including the cliff-communities, mesa-tops and heathland. For example, the podocarp Microstrobus fitzgeraldii is restricted to the wet rocks near the base of waterfalls and has only been recorded in the Jamieson Valley, notably around Wentworth Falls. The area provides a considerable range of habitats for eucalypts which are the dominant tree species throughout most the park. In all there are 90 separate eucalypt taxa (13% of the global total), and on a unit area basis there are some of the most diverse eucalypt sites in the world. These include representatives of all of the major phyletic sub-groupings. Among these there are 12 taxa which are considered endemic to the Blue mountains and nearby sandstones, including eight which are considered rare or threatened.

FAUNA The Blue Mountains host a wide variety of native Australian fauna, associated with the floristic and structural diversity of the region. There is only one endemic species, a snake, and most species, including those which are rare or threatened, are relatively widespread. In all about 400 vertebrate species have been recorded.

The mammalian fauna is made up of 52 native and 13 introduced species. The former include a number of well-known Australian mammals such as the eastern grey kangaroo Macropus giganteus, the red-necked wallaby M. rufogriseus, wallaroo M. robustus, koala Phasocarctos cinereus (LR/nt), and wombat Vombatus ursinus. Some 12 of the mammals listed for the World Heritage nominated area are considered rare or threatened, including the spotted-tailed quoll Dasyurus maculatus (VU C1+2a), long-nosed potoroo Potorous tridactylus (VU C2a) brush-tailed rock wallaby Petrogale penicillata (VU C2a).

The avian fauna is diverse, with some 265 native species and a further 10 introduced species. This figure comprises one third of the total number of species found in Australia. Particularly significant is the high diversity of honeyeaters: 25 species have been recorded from the World Heritage nominated area. The white-eared honeyeater Lichenstomus leucotis and New Holland honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae are found in the drier forests, while the Lewin honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii frequents the rainforests and wet sclerophyll forest. Other species include the well-known gang-gang cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum, superb lyrebird Menura novaehollandiae, crimson rosella Platycercus elegans, kookaburra Dacelo gigas, and satin bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus. Predatory species recorded from the area include the wedge-tailed eagle Aquila audax and a number of owl species.

In all over 60 species of reptiles have been recorded, including two tortoises. The broad-headed snake Hoplocephalus bungaroides is largely restricted to the Hawkesbury sandstone. Over 30 species of frog have been recorded from the Greater Blue Mountains area.

The invertebrate fauna is poorly known, but likely to be highly diverse. The rainforest areas are particularly rich. The primitive phylum Onychophora is particularly important, with at least five species (out of a global total of only 200). Glowworms are also of interest, particularly the primitive members of the genus Arachnocampa.

CULTURAL HERITAGE The World Heritage nominated area has important cultural associations both with indigenous cultures and in the history of western colonisation and development.

As with most parts of Australia, local Aborigines had a close association with the land. This is thought to date back at least 14,000, as possibly as much as 22,000, years, although it remains unclear as to whether the area was permanently occupied during these periods (Mosley, 1989). An intensification of human activity has been dated from about 7500 years ago, and even more from about 3,500 years ago when a tradition of tool use began in this part of Australia. Evidence for such early occupation includes evidence of the use of rock shelters, stone implements, factory sites for tool production, axe grinding grooves and extensive art-work: in all nearly 700 sites have been recorded from the Blue Mountains NP, of which 40% include an art component.

The three main language groups in the area were Gundungurra, Daruk and Darkinjung, each maintaining traditions and stories associated with creation and the landscape. While many of these stories are now lost some of the Gundungurra stories were noted down. The origin of the great valleys of the Cox and Wollondilly, BMNP and Nattai is explained in the story of the epic journey of the Gurangatch (Rainbow Serpent) and the Mirragan (quoll). The language groups of the Aboriginal peoples were further sub-divided into bands with whom they identified.

Art-work identified in the region is largely associated with the Simple Figurative group of styles which are widespread across Australia. Such work includes a wide range of motifs from anthropogenic figures, hands, feet, terrestrial and marine animals, birds and tracks of humans and animals. Styles include engraving and pigment art - both styles are found in shelter sites, while only engravings are found in a number of open sandstone platforms.

The region played a significant role in the development of European settlement in Australia. Initially the mountains were simply seen as a major physical obstacle, lying close to the major new centres of European population. The earliest forays into the region were part of attempts to traverse the mountains, indeed within 3 months of first arriving in 1788, the first Governor, Phillips made his first attempt to reach the mountains. A number of ventures succeeded in penetrating a long way into the mountains, including that of George Caley, botanist and plant collector for Joseph Banks who reached the base of Mount Banks in 1804. Caley noted that the mountains were "impassable" and "must forever remain an unsurmountable barrier to the extension of the settlement". It was not until 1813 that Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson eventually crossed the region, following ground between the Cox and and Grose Rivers. By the start of 1915 their route had been converted into a rough road which even today forms the basis of the Great Western Highway. This, and a smaller route through the Bell Range remain the only roads which cross the mountains over a length of some 310 kilometres.

As the new colony grew and became the city of Sydney so the value of the mountains grew as a place of recreation, and indeed can be seen to have played a critical role in the development of conservation and wilderness values in modern Australian culture. A number of walking tracks were built as far back as the 1830s and 40s, while the number of users of these tracks increased dramatically with the completion of a rail connection in 1867-8. The earliest gazetted public recreation reserves were the Fish River Caves (later Jenolan Caves) in 1866 and the Grand Canyon in 1872. A number of other reserves were developed, particularly along the lines of the railway: for example Katoomba Falls were gazetted in 1883 following presentation of a public petition arguing their value for the "health, morale and intellectual advancement" of the residents of Sydney.

LOCAL HUMAN POPULATION There is no resident population within the park boundaries however there are a number of population centres close to the park boundaries, particularly along the line of the Great Western Highway.

VISITORS AND VISITOR FACILITIES Estimated total visitor to the site in 1997 was nearly two million, which is approximately 82% of all visitors to the parks included in the World Heritage nominated area (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998b). A number of the population centres, particularly along the Great Western Highway are used as an important base for a wide range of recreation activities. The most widespread activity is probably that of hiking (bushwalking), with camping being widespread in many parts of the park. There are at least 140km of contructed and unformed walking tracks, with use ranging from several thousand to some 300,000 walkers per year. Horse-riding, cycling and some vehicle touring are also common - there are 175km of roads and a further 275km of vehicle trails in the park. Parts of the park are heavily used for climbing, abseiling and "canyoning" (a mix of walking and roped climbing through the many narrow canyons in the park) (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998a). There are National Parks and Wildlife Service visitor information centres at Blackheath, Glenbrook, Echo Point and Wentworth Falls (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998b).

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND FACILITIES Significant research has been undertaken within the park associated with the tertiary research and eductional establishments in Sydney and other population centres. Additionally the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service are undertaking a number of more directed research programmes focussed on a number of conservation issues and have set priorities for future research (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998a). There are no research stations within the park boundaries.

CONSERVATION VALUE The site has a number of unique or highly important natural and cultural values. As a part of a much wider system of contiguous protected areas included in the World Heritage nominated area, the Greater Blue Mountains Region represents an area of unique geological and geomorphological structures, presenting new and interesting insights into the complex geological history of the region and outstanding examples of geomorphological processes. The region is an important centre for Australian flora and fauna with high levels of diversity and significant numbers of threatened and endemic species, particularly among the plant communities. The complex topography, altitudinal range and climatic variation within the region have enabled the development and survival of a broad and important range of different plant communities. Culturally the region includes some interesting Aboriginal sites and was also significant in the modern European history of Australia, both as a major barrier to the early settlers, and later as an important site for recreation and consequently in the development of environmental awareness and appreciation among the developing communities. The integrity of the landscape, and the vast area incorporated within the Region is important. Likewise the aesthetic beauty is also significant, particularly the combination of geomorphological features such as high cliffs, canyons and waterfalls, with the great variety of vegetation types.

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT A comprehensive Draft Plan of Management was prepared in 1998 (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998a) which details a broad range of activities and policy priorities including: development and maintenance of trails and roads; pest and alien species management; fire management; protection of Aboriginal heritage; development of recreation and interpretation facilities. These plans include liaison with external agencies responsible for developments adjacent to the national park area. The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service has primary responsibility for the management of the park, however most of the watershed areas around Lake Burragorang are jointly managed with Sydney Water Corporation. Areas within 3km of the lake are subject to special regulations as this is a Schedule One water protection zone (the Warragamba Catchment).

MANAGEMENT CONSTRAINTS The Blue Mountains National Park is actually divided by residential, touristic and and small farm development along the Great Western Highway, which may reduce the overall ecological integrity of the site. The combined population of these population centres is some 80,000, collectively known as the City of the Blue Mountains. As much of the population is centred on ridge-tops drainage is largely to the north or the south, directly into the Park. This area in particular is also subject to significant tourism impacts. Such population pressures result in increases, or the increased threat of weed invasion, pollution from sewage or nutrient enrichment from gardens and urban runoff, deliberate or accidental fires and sedimentation. Significant efforts are now underway to control further urban development and funds have been made available for the re-purchase of private land. Efforts are also underway to make major improvements to sewage treatment.

Introduced species are a further significant problem, and are a major focus for management programmes. There are at least 39 plants classified as noxious under the 1993 Noxious Weeds Act which occur within the park. For the most part these are localised to disturbed sites, particularly close to areas of human habitation and along lines of runoff from these areas. There has already been some success in the contral or removal of certain plants, with volunteer groups working with park authorities, however significant problems remain. Likewise there are some 13 introduced animals of concern, including the fox and feral cat. Towards the south of the park are feral populations of cattle, horses and pigs, while pigs are also found in the Grose Valley to the north and in the Wolgan Valley in Wollemi NP.

Although fire is an integral part of ecosystem functioning, fire management is an important part of the overall park management, partly for the human safety and recreational uses of the park and adjacent areas, but also for the natural systems themselves. Problems are likely to arise from too frequent fires (changing vegetation regimes, erosion patterns and water quality) or from too long between fires (loss of early successional species, increased threat of extensive fires covering large areas, threatening natural spatial variation in vegetation, and threatening neighbouring urban and agricultural lands).

Coal seams are found in a number of places throughout the park, however mining is prohibited. There is however some mining activities in adjacent areas (BM, Nattai, Thirlmere, Wollemi), and some risk that such activities could impact the hydrology or collapse of geological structures.

STAFF No information on the Blue Mountains National Park. Within the World Heritage nominated area there are 33 professional staff, which include managers, rangers, tour guides and fire management officers. There are a further 38 technical staff, including pest species officers, administrative officers, and visitor centre staff. Additionally there are some 35 maintenance staff (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998b).

BUDGET In 1997 some $3.4 million Australian was spent on managing the national parks within the World Heritage nominated area (not including Jenolan Caves).

Blue Mountains National Park Headquarters, PO Box 43, Blackheath, New South Wales 2785

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 43 Bridge Street, Hurstville, New South Wales 2220. Tel: 02 9585 6444

Blue Mountains Tourism Authority

Mosley, G. (1989). Blue Mountains for World Heritage. Colong Foundation for Wilderness, Sydney. 135pp.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (1998a). Blue Mountains National Park: draft plan of management. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. 103pp.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (1998b). The Greater Blue Mountains Area - World Heritage Nomination. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service in association with Environment Australia. 287pp.

DATE December 1998